A three-dimensional representation for program execution

Modern graphical workstations make possible interactive real-time manipulation of 3-D objects. Although 3-D graphics is usually used to model real-world objects, an abstract three-dimensional pictorial representation of computer programs is explored. Since programs are descriptions of dynamic processes, the focus is on the dynamic behavior of the graphical representation, resulting in an animation of the program's execution. The goal is to aid the debugging process by helping the programmer visualize the dynamic aspects of a program's behavior. 3-D representations help make use of the enormous innate power of the human visual system.<>